Terrance Mitchell guided by family and football

To Oregon fans worried about what the Ducks will be missing without all-American Cliff Harris at one corner of the defense, Terrance Mitchell would like you to know this: He has everything covered.

With Harris suspended, Oregon will be without one of its most talented — and its most confident -— players when it opens its 2011 season Saturday against No. 4 LSU in the Cowboys Classic in Arlington, Texas. Harris’ absence could be damning if not for Mitchell, who despite never playing a down of college football promises there won’t be much of a dropoff when he fills in at cornerback.

“I know I’m going to be ready,” said Mitchell, a redshirt freshman from Sacramento.

The source of Mitchell’s confidence rest prominently on the inside of his right forearm. There, the face of his father — his closest ally — is intricately inked, a constant and permanent source of motivation.

“He’s always right here with me,” he said.

Terrance Mitchell Sr. will be in Cowboys Stadium to see is son’s collegiate debut on Saturday. Sure, he’s nervous. Always has been, even before those first Pop Warner games when Terrance Jr. was 6 years old.

It wasn’t longer after that when the father sat down his young son and asked him what he might like to do with his life.